Pro Football RumorsBrandon Williams (DT) – Pro Football Rumorshttps://www.profootballrumors.com
NFL Rumors: Trades, Free Agency, DraftThu, 21 Mar 2019 20:01:23 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.8.9No Timeline For Ravens DT Brandon Williamshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/10/no-return-timeline-for-ravens-dt-brandon-williams
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/10/no-return-timeline-for-ravens-dt-brandon-williams#respondWed, 04 Oct 2017 00:49:13 +0000https://www.profootballrumors.com/?p=80449Defensive tackle Brandon Williams does not have a timeline for return as he works his way back from a foot injury, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters, including Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link).

Williams, who re-signed with the Ravens in March on a five-year, $52.5MM deal, has missed each of Baltimore’s last two games (which, coincidentally or not, have both been losses). The Ravens have allowed more than 160 yards rushing to both the Jaguars and the Steelers over the past two weeks without Williams, who appeared in all 16 games from 2014-16. Williams, 28, graded as the NFL’s No. 39 interior defender among 127 qualifiers in last season, per Pro Football Focus, which assigned Williams stout marks against the run.

With Williams sidelined, Baltimore has asked fellow defensive tackle Michael Pierce to play increased snaps — he’s seeing action on nearly 80% of the Ravens’ defensive plays after lining up on just a third of the club’s snaps a season ago. With fellow starter Brent Urbandone for the season, Carl Davis, Bronson Kaufusi, and Willie Henry are also seeing time. Third-round rookie Chris Wormley has yet to be active on gameday in 2017, but that could hypothetically change later in the year.

Chiming in on this debate, a scout told McGinn: “Cook is faster straight-line, yes, but their body type is totally different. When you walk up on Bennett, that is a man. Cook can’t block you or me. Bennett can. He can seal an edge.”

While these evaluators said the deal for Bennett comes with risk because of the pass-catcher’s age (30) and recent injury struggles. Bennett injured an ankle last season and reinjured it to the point he might require offseason surgery. One GM also mentioned 12 tight ends he would rather have than Bennett next season — a list that included Jack Doyle, Jermaine Gresham and Kyle Rudolph — but the same GM told McGinn he would only take two of those tight ends (Rob Gronkowski and Rudolph) over Bennett as a blocker.

Here’s more from the Norths as free agency nears its third week.

Lance Kendricks‘ two-year Packers accord will be worth $4MM, with $1.2MM guaranteed, per McGinn. This could prove to be a value-re-establishing pact for Kendricks, who saw the Rams get out of a four-year, $18.5MM deal by cutting him.

Brandon Williams received interest from beyond Baltimore, but the Ravens succeeded on a persistent push to retain him. The fifth-year nose tackle wasn’t keen on being the latest impact Ravens UFA defection. “I wanted to come back. I tried to kind of leave hints,” Williams said, via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The Ravens signed their former Division II find to a five-year, $52.5MM deal. That pact includes a $12.5MM signing bonus. The Bills’ decision to revert back to a 4-3 look will make Williams the league’s highest-paid nose tackle by a wide margin.

Despite Kevin Minter pledging to come to Cincinnati for the 2017 season, Reuben Foster remains an option for the Bengals with their No. 9 overall pick, Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets. Minter signed a one-year deal, and Foster — if taken at No. 9 overall — would be under team control for five. Plus, Minter has positional versatility that would allow him to play alongside the Alabama middle linebacker.

Ricky Jean-Francois left his Bears visit without a contract, and the UFA defensive lineman will make his way to Seattle for a scheduled Seahawks summit, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets. Anderson added

]]>7Ravens Re-Sign DT Brandon Williamshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-to-re-sign-brandon-williams
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-to-re-sign-brandon-williams#commentsFri, 10 Mar 2017 01:40:04 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=57487The Ravens are keeping one of their top free agents in Baltimore. Defensive tackle Brandon Williams is re-signing with the team, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. It’s a five-year deal, Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun tweets. The pact is worth $54MM, including $27MM in guarantees, which makes Williams the highest-paid nose tackle in the NFL, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Earlier Thursday, it was said that Williams’ agent was only working on a contract with the Ravens, though the Titans later found a way to get involved. The overtures from Tennessee didn’t work – Williams, 26, is sticking with the only team he’s ever known in the NFL and is in line to remain in Baltimore through his prime seasons.

Williams entered the league as a third-round pick in 2013 and has since totaled 55 appearances and 46 starts in Baltimore. Last year was the third straight 16-game campaign for Williams, who also started all of the Ravens’ contests for the second season in a row and ranked 39th in performance among Pro Football Focus‘ 127 qualified D-linemen.

Williams joins safety Tony Jefferson as the second major signing on the defensive side of the ball during this free agency period for the Ravens. After finishing an excellent sixth in defensive DVOA last season, the club also has free agent cornerback Morris Claiborneon its radar.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>2Titans Interested In Brandon Williamshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/titans-interested-in-brandon-williams
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/titans-interested-in-brandon-williams#respondFri, 10 Mar 2017 00:18:19 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=57407The Titans are among the teams with interest in free agent defensive tackle Brandon Williams, according to Terry McCormick of TitanInsider.com (Twitter link). However, the two might not be able to find common ground on a price, McCormick adds.

As of earlier Thursday, Williams’ agent was working on a contract with the Ravens, the 28-year-old’s only NFL employer to date. Williams entered the league as a third-round pick in 2013 and has since piled up 55 appearances and 46 starts in Baltimore. Last year was the third straight 16-game campaign for Williams, who also started all of the Ravens’ games for the second season in a row and ranked 39th in performance among Pro Football Focus‘ 127 qualified D-linemen.

Given his track record, the 335-pound Williams – who ranks as one of the top free agents left on the board – figures to come at a high cost. An adept run defender, Williams would further beef up a Tennessee ‘D’ that already fared well against opposing rushers last season, when it ranked second in ground yards allowed and 10th in DVOA versus the run.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>0Latest On Brandon Williamshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/latest-on-brandon-williams
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/latest-on-brandon-williams#respondThu, 09 Mar 2017 18:55:07 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=57007Although several clubs want to take a meeting free agent defensive tackle Brandon Williams, his agents are working on a contract with the Ravens, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

The 28-year-old Williams has so far spent his entire career with the Ravens, who selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft. Williams has been durable, having appeared in 16 games in each of the past three seasons, and productive. In addition to piling up 16 starts for the second straight year, he ranked as Pro Football Focus‘ 39th-best D-tackle among 127 qualifiers last season.

]]>0Ravens Trying To Re-Sign Williams, Malletthttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-trying-to-re-sign-brandon-williams-ryan-mallett
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-trying-to-re-sign-brandon-williams-ryan-mallett#commentsThu, 09 Mar 2017 02:48:16 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=56631As of earlier Wednesday, it appeared impending free agent defensive tackle Brandon Williams was definitely on his way out of Baltimore, but that’s not the case, tweets Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. The Ravens are still working to re-sign Williams before the market opens Thursday.

The 28-year-old Williams has so far spent his entire career with the Ravens, who selected him in the third round of the 2013 draft. Williams has been durable, having appeared in 16 games in each of the past three seasons, and productive. In addition to piling up 16 starts for the second straight year, he ranked as Pro Football Focus‘ 39th-best D-tackle among 127 qualifiers last season.

Along with Williams, the Ravens are attempting to re-up a lower priority free agent-to-be in quarterback Ryan Mallett, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (Twitter link). After stints with New England and Houston, Mallett joined the Ravens late in the 2015 season and served as Joe Flacco‘s primary backup last year. In six appearances (two starts) with Baltimore, the 28-year-old has posted a 59.2 percent completion rate, two touchdowns against three interceptions, and 5.7 yards per attempt.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>3Ravens Expected To Lose Brandon Williams?https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-expected-to-lose-brandon-williams
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/ravens-expected-to-lose-brandon-williams#commentsThu, 09 Mar 2017 02:13:47 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=56545Brandon Williams tenure with the Ravens may be on ice. Although Baltimore is reportedly working to re-sign the veteran defensive tackle, Williams might not return to Baltimore next season, per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitterlinks). Still, the Ravens are still “very much” in the mix for Williams, adds Zriebec. The Sun scribe continues that there have been plenty of “rumblings” regarding Williams signing with the Giants, but he’s unsure if a decision has been made.

The 2013 third-round pick has spent his entire four-year career with the Ravens. He’s played in 16 games for each of the past three seasons, and he’s started every game over the past two campaigns. This past season, he collected 51 tackles and one sack. Pro Football Focus graded Williams as the 39th-best defensive tackle last season among 127 eligible candidates. Meanwhile, we ranked Williams as the third-best available defensive tackle.

]]>1Cole’s Latest: Jackson, Zeitler, Poe, Williamshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/coles-latest-jackson-zeitler-poe-williams-branch-jefferson
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/coles-latest-jackson-zeitler-poe-williams-branch-jefferson#respondWed, 08 Mar 2017 13:59:44 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=56126DeSean Jackson looks set for a raise despite having turned 30 during the 2016 season. His market is heating up on Day 2 of the legal tampering period, and it’s expected to clear the $11MM mark in terms of AAV, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes (on Twitter). The 10th-year deep threat is likely to leave Washington, and two Redskins rivals — the Cowboys and Eagles — remain interested, per Cole. He adds the Patriots and Buccaneers are in on Jackson as well. We’ve heard Jackson’s salary could climb toward the $12MM-per-year neighborhood. That would lean toward a team like the Bucs ($58.3MM in cap space), with the Cowboys and Eagles on the lower end of the cap-room hierarchy and the Patriots not big on monster skill-position contracts. Dallas’ interest, though, has been disputed, with Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reporting the team isn’t interested. The Cowboys have just $8.3MM in cap space.

Here’s more from free agency, courtesy of Cole.

Kevin Zeitler may raise the guard salary ceiling, and the Jaguars continue to come up in connection to the former Bengals first-round pick, Cole tweets. The Jags re-signed guard Patrick Omameh on Tuesday, but at $775K, that won’t figure to preclude them from making a splash to upgrade their front. Zeitler’s been connected to a $12MM-per-year deal on a heated guard market. Kelechi Osemele‘s $11.7MM currently tops all guards. Jacksonville has $75.6MM in cap space. The Jags’ line does not have a veteran contract on its interior, with rookie-deal cogs Brandon Linder and A.J. Cann having been the primary starters last season, along with Omameh.

Dontari Poe might not get the kind of long-term security he wants this year, and Cole tweets the five-year Chiefs starting nose tackle could opt for a one-year deal and re-enter free agency in 2018. The Chiefs prioritized Eric Berry among their big two free agents, signing the cornerstone safety to a record extension. They also drafted Chris Jones in the second round in 2016 and are short on cap space, with a league-low $4.6MM presently. Poe made Pro Bowls in 2013 and ’14, but a 2015 back surgery slowed him. And Poe’s 2016 season, per Pro Football Focus, didn’t compare with his work at his peak. Cole notes Poe could look for a team that wants him to rush the passer more. Poe made just more than $6MM in 2016 on a fifth-year option.

Conversely, Ravens 3-4 nose Brandon Williams looks like he’ll do well in his first UFA foray. Cole tweets the fifth-year defender could well sign for around what the Giants paid Damon Harrison last year (five years, $46.25MM). That would bridge the gap for 3-4 nose players between Marcell Dareus and the field, and it might be more than the Ravens ($12MM-plus in space) can afford.

After one tampering day, Cole notes (on Twitter) Andre Branch could have a strong market. Cole associates the veteran defensive end as being worth between $7-9MM per year. Branch recorded 5.5 sacks on what could be a short-term stay with the Dolphins in 2016. As of January, the Fins wanted to keep Branch in Miami, but not much has surfaced on the now-two-time free agent since.

The Tony Jefferson rise seems real, with Cole now reporting (on Twitter) the Cardinals safety could earn more than $9MM annually. Previously, Cole had Jefferson — likely the market’s top safety after Berry re-signed in Kansas City — pegged to command around $7MM per year. But Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com attached the safety to a market around nearly $10MM AAV.

]]>0Latest On Ravens’ Top Free Agentshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/latest-on-ravens-top-free-agents
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/03/latest-on-ravens-top-free-agents#commentsSun, 05 Mar 2017 23:21:10 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=55390With less than two days until the legal tampering window opens, the Ravens run the risk of losing three key free agents. One appears to be already set to explore avenues elsewhere, with Jeff Zreibec of the Baltimore Sun reporting (on Twitter) the Ricky Wagner ship “appears to have sailed.” The fifth-year lineman is expected to receive top right tackle money and depart Baltimore.

Wagner’s arrow, though, had been pointed out of Maryland for some time now. He’s viewed as a top tackle in a weak market at that position, and the Ravens were reportedly ready to live with Wagner leaving if it meant they could retain Brandon Williams. That now no longer looks certain, either. The team has made several proposals to the fifth-year nose tackle but hasn’t found common ground, per Zreibec (via Twitter).

The third player in question here, Kyle Juszczyk, won’t command the kind of money the aforementioned pair will this week. And the Ravens are expected to meet with the fullback’s agent on Monday, Zreibec tweets. Juszczyk, though, is expected to garner high-end fullback money, per Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, who notes the fifth-year fullback’s price point is expected to “shatter” what the Ravens will pay.

Juszczyk, who rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 1 fullback last season (largely on the strength of his top-flight pass blocking), has 97 career receptions for 769 yards and five touchdowns. Kansas City’s Anthony Sherman is the highest-paid fullback at $2.1MM per year, so that could be in line to change.

Wagner and Williams profile as two of the league’s top free agents, with Wagner possibly looking at nearly $10MM per year. Both the Vikings and Bears are said to be interested in his services. The Ravens made an attempt to retain him in February, but Wagner “rebuffed” the offer. Baltimore hovers on the low end in terms of cap space, sitting with barely $13MM.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>3Top 2017 Free Agents By Position: Defensehttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/02/best-nfl-2017-free-agents-defense
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/02/best-nfl-2017-free-agents-defense#commentsSat, 25 Feb 2017 04:00:07 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=54023NFL free agency will get underway on Thursday, March 9th, and while the list of free agents will change between now and then, we do have some idea of who will be available when free agency kicks off. The frenzy is right around the corner and it’s time for us to break down the outlook for each position. After looking at offense, we’ll tackle defense and special teams today.

Listed below are our rankings for the top 15 free agents at each defensive position. These rankings aren’t necessarily determined by the value of the contracts – or the amount of guaranteed money – that each player is expected to land in free agency. These are simply the players we like the most at each position, with both short- and long-term value taken into account.

Restricted and exclusive-rights free agents, as well as players who received the franchise tag, aren’t listed here, since the roadblocks in place to hinder another team from actually acquiring most of those players prevent them from being true free agents.

We’ll almost certainly be higher or lower on some free agents than you are, so feel free to weigh in below in our comments section to let us know which players we’ve got wrong.

Here’s our breakdown of the current top 15 free agents by defensive position for 2017:

The Cardinals have already made it abundantly clear that Chandler Jones will see the franchise tag this offseason, and Melvin Ingram and Jason Pierre-Paul are also candidates to be tagged by the Chargers and Giants, respectively. If the latter two are able to hit the open market unfettered, however, they both figure to break the bank. Ingram, Pro Football Focus’ No. 6 edge defender, could be a fit for both 3-4 and 4-3 schemes, while JPP will be looking for a long-term commitment after signing consecutive one-year deals.

The rest of this year’s crop of free agent pass rushers is a blend of young defenders searching for their first payday and veterans on the hunt for one last contract. Among the players with youth still on their side, Packers edge defenders Nick Perry and Datone Jones figure to interest different clubs, as Perry is a better match for a 3-4 defense while Jones needs to restart his career as a 4-3 defensive end. John Simon has been overlooked while playing alongside the likes of J.J. Watt, Jadeveon Clowney, and Whitney Mercilus but could represent a hidden gem, while the Dolphins are reportedly prioritizingAndre Branch.

After managing nine sacks over the first nine years of his NFL tenure, Lorenzo Alexander busted out with 12.5 quarterback takedowns in 2016, and now could be looking for a double-digit annual salary. James Harrison and Charles Johnson, meanwhile, look like good bets to return to Steelers and Panthers, respectively, but DeMarcus Ware could be something of a wild card — after missing 11 games in the past two seasons, does the 34-year-old have enough left in the tank? The same could be asked of Dwight Freeney, who at age-37 posted three sacks in a rotational role for the Falcons.

Interior defensive line:

Unlike the edge defender market, the 2017 cadre of interior defensive lineman shouldn’t be overly affected by the franchise tender. Head coach Ron Rivera recently confessed the Panthers will “probably” have to use the tag on Kawann Short, but the rest of the defensive tackles listed here should be able to hit the open market. Of the remaining defenders, Campbell is the best overall player, but given that he’s entering his age-31 season, he may not cost as much as Johnathan Hankins, Brandon Williams, and Dontari Poe.

Hankins is only 24 years old, and though the Giants are trying to retain him along with the rest of their defensive core, the 6’3″, 320-pound mauler should represent an attractive option to a number of clubs this offseason. Williams, too, offers a massive presence on the inside, while Poe could intrigue clubs based on his first-round pedigree and athleticism (though his play hasn’t always matched his potential). The Redskins’ Chris Baker is a solid, well-rounded defensive tackle, and could constitute a consolation prize for teams that miss out on their top targets.

Coming off a disappointing four-year run with the Titans in 2016, Zach Brown was last year forced to sign a one-year deal with the Bills for less than $1.5MM. That won’t be the case this spring, as Brown finally lived up to his second-round draft status by grading as one of the league’s best ‘backers. Brown especially excelled in pass coverage by using his speed to chase pass-catchers around the field, and in today’s NFL, that’s a skill-set that equals a hefty paycheck.

The Texans are unlikely to use the franchise tag on A.J. Bouye, a decision which sets up the young corner to be the single-most intriguing player on the 2017 free agent market. Only 25 years old, Bouye came out of nowhere to grade as PFF’s No. 3 corner in 2016. But the former undrafted free agent played on less than 900 defensive snaps over the first three years of his career, so he’s going to get paid on essentially one season of production. Bouye earned less than $3MM total during his time with Houston — his next contract could contain five times that amount…annually.

The cornerback market stands as one of the best free agent positional groups this offseason, as strong players permeate the list from top-to-bottom. Trumaine Johnson faces an outside shot of being franchise-tagged, but if he hits the open market, he’ll likely be aiming for a contract similar to that of his former Rams teammate Janoris Jenkins (five years, $62.5MM). Elsewhere among corners, Stephon Gilmore is a more high-profile name than Logan Ryan, but Ryan has simply played better over the last few campaigns, and offers a more dependable output.

Morris Claiborne is a former first-round pick but didn’t play like it until last season. Dre Kirkpatrick is a former first-round pick but has never played like it. The rest of the cornerback list has warts, as well: Prince Amukamara has dealt with injury, Kayvon Webster has only two career starts, Terence Newman is entering his age-39 season, and Sam Shields is coming off multiple concussions. All of these players offer upside, but they are all undoubtedly attached to risk.

Safety:

The Chiefs are working to re-sign Eric Berry, but if the two parties can’t agree to a new deal, Kansas City will likely employ the franchise tag for the second consecutive season. The only problem? Berry is adamant that he won’t play under the tag again, even though it would guarantee him a one-year salary of nearly $13MM. Realistically, Berry won’t have any choice but to sign the tender — given that he’s already 28, he can’t afford to sit out the season and risk hitting the open market at close to 30 years old.

Tony Jefferson, meanwhile, isexpected to hit free agency, and could be the second-highest paid safety in this class behind Berry. Jefferson did reach the free agent market in 2016 as a restricted free agent, but he didn’t come with draft compensation attached. Any club could have signed him to an offer sheet, and if the Cardinals declined to match, would have acquired Jefferson scot-free. No team did so, which could be an indication that Jefferson’s 2016 market could be less robust than expected.

Also working against Jefferson is the fact that he plays close to the line of scrimmage, a role that’s relatively easy to fill, as Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus explained on a recent podcast. Duron Harmon, on the other hand, has demonstrated an ability to play deep safety, and thus could be in for a surprisingly high salary. The Cowboys’ Barry Church is “solid at everything, great at nothing,” tweets Andy Benoit of Sports Illustrated, while Jonathan Cyprien and T.J. McDonald are primarily run defenders. Darius Butler may be the most fascinating case among this list of safeties, as the former corner should theoretically offer above-average coverage skills.

Kicker:

The Seahawks don’t figure to re-signSteven Hauschka after bringing in fellow kicker Blair Walsh, but the longtime Seattle placekicker should be able to quickly find a new home in free agency. Nick Novak attempted the second-most field goals in the NFL last season after many Texans’ drives stalled, while Robbie Gould filled in admirably for the Giants after they released Josh Brown, converting of all ten of his field goal attempts.

Nick Folk was released as a cap casualty, and still has the talent to become another club’s kicker, while Mike Nugent — cut by the Bengals at midseason — may be nearing the end of the road after missing six extra points. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Phil Dawson come back for a fifth season with the 49ers, but Greg Zuerlein could move on from the Rams after the club threatened to bring in competition last offseason.

Punter:

Jeff Locke, 27, managed to pin opposing clubs inside the 20-yard line 34 times in 2016, good for fifth in the league. Britton Colquitt isn’t quite the punter that his brother, Dustin, is, but he found a new club soon after being cut last season and should do so again in 2017. Now 40 years old, Shane Lechler is a seven-time Pro Bowler, but the Texans lost 12.7 points of field position on punts last season, meaning Houston could go in another direction at punter.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>3Dolphins Could Be Active In Free Agencyhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/02/dolphins-could-be-active-in-free-agency
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/02/dolphins-could-be-active-in-free-agency#commentsMon, 20 Feb 2017 18:38:48 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=53628The Dolphins currently have over $42MM in cap space, which will increase significantly when they get rid of left tackleBranden Albert, and appear primed to put that money to use in the coming weeks. After going 10-6 and breaking a seven-year playoff drought in 2016, the Dolphins could “make a pretty big splash” when free agency opens March 9, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com said Monday on NFL Network (via Chris Wesseling of NFL.com).

In the wake of finishing 19th in the league in defensive DVOA last season, it seems Miami will look to make major upgrades on that side of the ball. Rapoport named defensive tackle and cornerback as areas the Dolphins might address, and he pointed to Ravens D-tackle Brandon Williams as a potential target. There’s no guarantee Williams will reach the market, though, as the Ravens have identified re-signing him as a priority.

On the back end, it’s already known that the Dolphins are pondering a trade for a big-name corner to pair with Byron Maxwell, but it’s possible they’ll go the free agent route instead. The market is slated to feature highly accomplished options in the form of the Texans’ A.J. Bouye, the Rams’ Trumaine Johnson and two AFC East rivals – the Patriots’ Logan Ryan and the Bills’ Stephon Gilmore. The Bengals’ Dre Kirkpatrick is also headed to free agency, and newly promoted Dolphins defensive coordinator Matt Burke is familiar with him after serving on Cincinnati’s staff from 2014-15.

]]>1Ravens Trying To Re-Sign Ricky Wagnerhttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/02/ravens-trying-to-re-sign-ricky-wagner
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/02/ravens-trying-to-re-sign-ricky-wagner#commentsMon, 13 Feb 2017 22:59:31 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=53006Ravens right tackle Ricky Wagner could be the best soon-to-be free agent bookend in the NFL, but the club is trying to keep him off the open market, according to CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora (Twitter link). While Wagner “rebuffed” the Ravens’ initial offer, the team is motivated to re-up both him and nose tackle Brandon Williams.

Wagner, whom the Ravens chose in the fifth round of the 2013 draft, is coming off a 14-start season – his third straight campaign with at least that many. Along the way, the 27-year-old ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 18th-best tackle among 78 qualifiers, and he could seek a deal worth around $10MM per annum as a result. That would be a bank-breaking amount for a right tackle, as would the $14.4MM-plus franchise tag, and either route could prove too rich for a Baltimore club which currently only has in the neighborhood of $15MM in spending room.

As for Williams, it has been known since last month that the Ravens are going to make a strong effort to prevent him from hitting free agency March 9. Assistant general manager Eric DeCosta called Williams an “‘A’ player” for the Ravens a couple weeks ago.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>1Ravens To Prioritize Brandon Williams Re-Uphttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/01/ravens-to-prioritize-brandon-williams-re-up
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/01/ravens-to-prioritize-brandon-williams-re-up#commentsSat, 28 Jan 2017 21:09:28 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=51602The Ravens have lost several starters in free agency over the past few years and may be set to see more depart this year, but they appear intent on keeping at least one. Assistant general manager Eric DeCosta said from the Senior Bowl the Ravens “have to try and retain” defensive tackle Brandon Williams.”

“He’s an ‘A’ player for us; he’s one of our best defensive players,” said DeCosta, who earlier this week declined a Colts GM interview request to continue with the Ravens. “He’s a rock inside. This guy can stuff the run, he can rush the quarterback, he can do everything we want him to do.”

Williams and right tackle Ricky Wagner profile as Baltimore’s top UFAs, but Wagner’s price might escalate past the Ravens’ comfort zone. Williams’ could as well, but the team has the franchise tag it could use in the meantime. Williams comprises part of a loaded defensive tackle class, with Kawann Short, Dontari Poe and Johnathan Hankins all sitting as UFAs. After Fletcher Cox‘s 2016 deal raised the AAV bar north of $17MM for DTs, this could be a pricey offseason for teams who want to acquire top talent on the defensive interior. Joel Corry of CBSSports.com projects the defensive tackle franchise tag to cost $13.468MM. The Ravens stand to possess just more than $15MM in cap space.

The soon-to-be 28-year-old Williams has started for the Ravens the past three seasons after arriving from Division II Missouri Southern. His run-stopping ability graded out well on Pro Football Focus in 2016, anchoring what the site called a top-flight run-defending front seven. The 335-pound talent doesn’t have quite the high profile of Short or Poe but is still set to cash in, and the Ravens aren’t exactly playing it coy about his importance to their team.

“[Williams] fits in with the tradition of Ravens defensive tackles and nose tackles, whether it’s Haloti [Ngata], Kelly Gregg, even going further back to Kemo [Ma’ake Kemoeatu], Sam Adams, Tony Siragusa,” DeCosta said. “Brandon’s right there with all those guys.”

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

]]>2AFC North Notes: Browns, Steelers, Ravenshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/01/afc-north-notes-browns-steelers-ravens
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2017/01/afc-north-notes-browns-steelers-ravens#commentsThu, 26 Jan 2017 23:24:38 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=51450Should the Browns‘ newly assembled power structure consult the team’s franchise player about a plan for the No. 1 overall pick, Joe Thomas would not use it on a quarterback. Going into his 11th year, the perennial All-Pro left tackle would rather see his team use the selection to bolster the pass rush.

“I think you need to get a pass-rusher,” Thomas said on the Dan Patrick Show today (via Pat McManamon of ESPN.com). “… You gotta be careful reaching for a quarterback at No. 1 because if they fail, they don’t help your team at all. Whereas if you pick a defensive lineman and maybe they don’t live up to the hype, you can still find a place to get him on the field and to have an impact. We need guys that can come in and start and that can contribute.”

Thomas, who has two years left on his Browns deal and will turn 33 during the 2017 season, said in the past the Browns need to identify a franchise quarterback. There isn’t a better spot to do that than the No. 1 pick. But this quarterback class — fronted by Deshaun Watson, DeShone Kizer and Cleveland-area product Mitch Trubisky — has divided scouts. The Browns have been reportedly coveting Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett at No. 1 and considering a Watson pick at No. 12. But obviously, the versatile Clemson talent is no lock to be there when Cleveland’s second first-round window opens, given quarterback prospects’ rises as drafts near.

Here’s more from northeast Ohio and some other regions housing AFC North franchises.

Jamie Collins‘ four-year, $50MM extension will pay $37.5MM in its first three years before containing no guaranteed money during the 2020 season, Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald tweets. Collins will also receive a $5MM signing bonus as part of the deal (per Howe, on Twitter) which includes $26.5MM guaranteed.

Negotiations between the Ravens and UFA nose tackle Brandon Williams have not yet begun but are expected to commence before he hits the market, Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun notes. Even before Zach Orr‘s retirement, Williams was set to be the top priority, per Preston, for a Ravens team that’s lost numerous talents in free agency in recent years. It’s a big year for free agent defensive tackles, with Dontari Poe and Kawann Short residing as impending UFAs.

The Ravens tied up some loose ends on their coaching staff today, per the Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zreibec (on Twitter). Chris Hewitt will take over new Bills DC Leslie Frazier‘s position as secondary coach, and Mike MacDonald will assist him, Zreibec tweets. Craig Ver Steeg, a nine-year Ravens offensive assistant, will coach quarterbacks, will slide over from skill-position assistance to helping QBs coach/OC Marty Mornhinweg with the signal-callers, Zreibec notes (on Twitter). Drew Wilkins will serve as the assistant defensive line coach. Each of these staffers’ assignment changes represents an internal promotion.

The Steelers could determine another year with Ladarius Green is too risky, Ray Fittipaldo of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes. Green will enter his sixth season after experiencing a disastrous fifth, playing in just six games. However, he averaged 50.7 yards per game and made several big plays when healthy. But concussion issues dogged Green to the point Mike Tomlin said a decision needs to be made about the tight end. “I don’t have an assessment, long-term, of where he is,” Tomlin said. “I think that’s one of the chief medical decisions and questions that we have to have moving forward, in terms of guys getting an assessment of their overall health and what it means for 2017.” A Green cutwill cost the Steelers $3.56MM in dead money while saving the team barely $2MM. Green said earlier this week he does not intend to retire.

Antonio Brown‘s constant desire for targets has rubbed many teammates the wrong way, but his occasionally selfish ways aren’t viewed as detrimental to the team, Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette writes. Ben Roethlisberger has told the All-Pro wideout to “shut up” multiple times on the field, and since-retired tight end Heath Miller told Brown to “stop complaining about not getting the ball” at a 2015 practice. However, Dulac notes Brown not a problem in the locker room. This could be a key point as Brown’s payday looms.

]]>7AFC Notes: Fitz, Jets, Ravens, Williams, Coltshttps://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/07/afc-notes-fitz-jets-ravens-williams-colts
https://www.profootballrumors.com/2016/07/afc-notes-fitz-jets-ravens-williams-colts#commentsWed, 20 Jul 2016 00:37:12 +0000https://pfr.traderumors.com/?p=31004There doesn’t appear to be an end in sight to the months-long contract standoff between the Jets and free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. Even though training camp is fast approaching, the two sides haven’t spoken in over a month, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Similarly, Fitzpatrick and the Jets’ Brandon Marshall haven’t talked in multiple weeks, the concerned receiver stated Monday. And whether it means anything remains to be seen, but Fitzpatrick put his New Jersey house up for rent last week, per Darryl Slater of NJ.com. He and the Jets have been at odds since March over the club’s three-year, $24MM offer that features $15MM in guarantees.

Elsewhere around the AFC…

Nose tackle Brandon Williams is the most obvious extension candidate on the Ravens’ roster, opines Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun. However, Zrebiec doesn’t see any real incentive for Williams to discuss a new deal now, writing that his next contract could rival the five-year, $46.25MM pact fellow nose tackle Damon Harrison signed as a free agent with the Giants over the winter. Williams, 27, is coming off his third NFL season, one in which he started all 16 of Baltimore’s games, amassed 53 tackles and two sacks, and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ 21st-best interior defender (fourth overall against the run) among 123 qualifiers. He’s scheduled to make $1.67MM in 2016, the final year of his rookie accord.

The Colts don’t have a clear long-term solution at running back, where 33-year-old starter Frank Gore is ancient for a rusher and coming off the worst season of his decorated 11-year career. But the club is bullish on undrafted rookie Josh Ferguson, writes Mike Chappell of CBS4. “He’s very, very athletic,’’ head coach Chuck Pagano said of the ex-Illinois back. “He’s a great receiver out of the backfield. We can split him wide. We can displace him formationally. He’s a mismatch out in space. He’s got juice. He can go. He’s got great vision. Just not a third-down back, but he’s a good runner.” Offered owner Jim Irsay, “We think guys like Josh Ferguson have a chance to be special. Time will tell.’’ Notably, draft guru Dave-Te Thomas, who has served as a scouting personnel consultant to NFL teams for multiple decades, lavished praise on Ferguson when assessing the Colts’ rookie class for PFR earlier this month.